I have been a PCS user since 1998. Over the years I've had several PCS phones, PCS service providers, and PCS service plan options. Out of the three PCS providers I've used over the years, Sprint PCS has been the best. I was first turned on to Sprint PCS by their catchy commercials two years ago. I wanted to get an affordable monthly service plan, but was afraid I wouldn't get one because my credit was less than spectacular. Between 1998 and 2000, I had used pre-paid cellular plans from both Omnipoint (now Voicestream) and Bell Atlantic Mobile (now Verizon). Now for those who don't know, if you make many or long calls with a pre-paid PCS service, you're wasting your money. I was putting $150 plus on my phone a month easily. I figured I could probably cut that price in half and get a monthly service plan. I was tired of running out of minutes with both pre-paid services I had and having to tell people during important conversations to call me back at a pay phone because my minutes were running out.

Being sick and fed up with it all, a year ago I began to do some research. I wanted to see which PCS carriers would give a guy with bad credit a new lease on life and allow him to purchase PCS services from them. I looked into Voicestream, Verizon, Sprint PCS, and MCI WorldCom. I must say that out of the above mentioned, MCI WorldCom are the most "not so good" credit unfriendly people out of them all. They actually told me that they needed a deposit (which I was expecting), but they wanted me to send them $1,000 for a deposit before they'd offer services to me. Now I may not be the poorest man in America, but I can't even spell one thousand dollars, never the less, pull one thousand dollars out of my rooter to send to them just so I could have a $49 per month with them. Needless to say, MCI WorldCom was etched off the list right off the bat.

Now for Verizon. They have all other PCS providers beat hands down because they already have literally a nationwide analog network and a nationwide digital network (stemming from their old Bell Telephone "monopoly" days), offering superior coverage from coast to coast, something AT&T, Sprint PCS, and Voicestream cannot say. So I was turned on to them next for that reason, but their service plans sucked. For example, I do not travel out of the home area at all, so all I need is a local calling plan. I don't need long distance as an option, since 215, 610, 267, and 609 are all part of most PCS providers' home calling area. Before Verizon began offering 2000 night and weekend minutes on all plans with two-year service agreements, for 1,000 anytime minutes Verizon charged $75. With Sprint PCS, I could get 2,000 minutes (1,000 anytime minutes and 1, 000 night & weekend minutes) for the same price. So Verizon was ex-ed out.

Next was Voicestream. I must admit that Voicestream came close in the PCS wars, but was ex-ed because they offered night and weekend minutes, but charged you an additional $7 per month for this feature. Once again, Sprint PCS came out on top because you have an option to get night and weekend minutes for free (Sprint will match your night and weekend minutes with the minutes in your regular service plan).

I finally got to Sprint PCS and found everything I was looking for. They had a program where if you had not so stellar credit, you still could get a service plan with an affordable $125 deposit. I began to smile. This program also prevents you from getting into PCS debt by giving you a $125 cap on your monthly PCS services. That is if your bill gets past $125, your service is temporarily suspended until you get your balance due below your cap, or spending limit as they call it. But it's nearly impossible for your service to be suspended if you do what you're supposed to do and PAY YOUR BILLS WHEN THEY ARE DUE! The service plans were the best I had seen in my search. My current service plan includes 1,000 anytime minutes for $75. If you're not a f'n chatterbox on the phone as I am, you can opt to receive a cheaper plan with fewer minutes. Sprint's service plans begin as low as $19.99 and go upward from there, depending on your needs. I also got a free option. I could choose night and weekend minutes (these minutes are matched with your anytime minutes and used during calls placed/received on nights and weekends), long distance (long distance charges are not applied to my account if I were to call out of my home area code), or the wireless web (I'd be able to access the internet from my internet ready phone with no additional charges).

This took place in the olden days when I first started using Sprint PCS services. Now a days, I say Sprint PCS is still the best when it comes to offering the best service plans, now that they have these options included in specially designed service plans. So if you're curious about service plan rates, check out www.sprintpcs.com and look around the service plans section to see if any of their plans catch your eye. While you're there, check out there phones. I think they are the coolest on the market (beside the Nokia phones which Sprint PCS doesn't offer at the moment).

As for customer service, I can only speak out of experience. I must say that Sprint PCS offers great customer service. On average, I've only been on hold for four minutes or so if that, but the longest was twenty minutes when I called about 5:30 PM on a Friday (but don't worry--calls to Sprint PCS customer service or automated billing system don't count toward the minutes in your plan). But every time I called to switch service plans, get information about upgrading phones, or just general billing questions, I got nothing but friendly and courteous service. When I hear others talk about their horror stories, I can't believe it. I also get cracked up when people complain that they can not find Sprint's customer service number on the website when all they had to do is to the FAQ section and look up the problem they have, weather it be billing or what have you. In the later part of the answers, their CS number is given (*2 from your PCS phone, or an 800 number from land line phones). The number is also given to you on a card that is included in your phone's package, as well as in the Sprint PCS leaflet entitled "Terms and Conditions of Service". I'm sorry for going off topic for a moment, but it burns me up that people just don't open their eyes and do some work rather than blame someone else for their "ignorance".

--Overall, Sprint PCS' customer advocates are friendly and very helpful--

--AND NOW FOR PCS SHOPPING ADVISE IN GENERAL--

If you're looking for a good PCS provider with excellent service plans, Sprint PCS could be the one for you. But remember, you should base which PCS provider you want to use on your needs and your needs alone. Sprint PCS was the best for me, as well as a few of my cousins and their significant others. Maybe Sprint isn't for you. Remember, you must do as I did and do your homework. Find out what each company is offering (service plans, options, etc.) and pick the one best for you. Don't be afraid to do a little hard work. Don't be afraid to compare prices and stop in their individual stores to ask questions and voice concerns. Study those coverage maps. Don't just go out and get a phone and service and not look at the coverage maps. You could end up having a "dud" phone because where you live, Sprint or AT&T, Voicestream, or whoever, doesn't have comprehensive coverage in your area. And always remember READ THE FINE PRINT. Don't get stuck with something you don't like and not be able to get out of it because you signed the contract and didn't read it. Remember, that fine print is the heard and soul of contracts, get to know each company's policies and be familiar with them when you sign on the dotted line. If you do the above, you can't go wrong.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 75/MO Plan